Flash-light



B. BENEDICT. FLASH LIGHT.

Arme/mon man 1m19.191s.

1,308,032. Patented July 1, 1919.

INVENT'OR 7,8 ,af/WML TTORNEYS UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.`

BERNARD BENEDICT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,VASSIGNOR T TRADERS METAL GOODS CO. INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLASH-LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1, 1919.

Original application filed February 7, 1914, Serial No..817,090. Divided and this application filed January i9, 191s. semina 212,58,

To all whom z't may concern.' v

Be it known that I, BERNARD BENEDIGT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of Bronx, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flash- Lights, of which the following is a specifica- I tion, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

My invention relates to portable electric lights and pertainsmore particularl to a flashlight intended to be carried in t e upper vest pocket in the same manner that a fountain pen is carried therein, and my present invention is a divisional part of the subject matter of my application for patent for a flashlight filed February 7, 1914, Serial No. 817 ,090. A fountain pen is ordinarily provided with a spring clip or member adapted when the pen is placed in the upper vest pocket to embrace between itself and the side of the pen the thickness of the material of the vest at the outer side of said pocket, the pen being thereby held securely. I utilize the same principle for holding the flashlight of my invention in the pocket, and the spring clip instead of being merely a clip for securing the flashlight is further utilized as a means for maintaining` the cir-A cuit through the lamp and battery in open condition while the flashlight is in the pocket and for conveniently enabling the making or closing of the circuit when the flashlight is not in the pocket and it is desired that the lamp shall be lighted. y

In carrying out my invention, therefore, in the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I construct the barrel or exterior casing of the flashlight to resemble in appearance a fountain pen,

vof the shell or casing of the flashlight will bev provided with a suitable battery and at one end of said casingwill be supplied the customary reflector and electric'lamp, and the exterior spring clipor circuit-closing device will normally be out of a position closing the circuit and therefore holding it open 4or broken, and said spring clip when the vflasl'ilight is inserted in the pocket will pass to the outer side of the material of the vest at the pocket and be thereby prevented from closing the circuit 'and wasting the battery,

" this being by reason of the fact that the upper front edgel of the vest pocket will engage or press against and beneath the cirn cuit-controlling slide which carries the `pocket-engaging springl clip and will prevent this slide from moving to the circuitclosing position. e

The invention will `be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference bei-ng had 'to the accom- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a flash- :light embodying my invention;

tion on a vertical plane indicated by the -line 5 5 of Fig. 2 as viewed from the left `and withvparts omitted; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on a horizontal plane indicated by the line 6--6 of Fig. 2 as viewed from above, but rotated ninety degrees,,corresponding to Fig. 5.

In the pocket electr-ic light embodying my invention A illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the exterior shell or casing is of metal, and this shell or casing is of elongated form and meantl to imitate as far as convenient the appearance of a fountain pen. This casing is shown in the drawings as made up of a lower cylindrical section or part 1 and an upper cylindrical cap part 2 fitting over the upper end of the lower casing part l, the

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cap part 2 being closed at its upper' end. it its lower end the lower casing part 1 carries a reflector having formed thereon a screwthreaded lamp socket 4 into which screws the base 5 of a usual miniature incandescent lamp having its central terminal 6 exposed within the casing tube 1 and having its bulb 'T exposed at. the outer end oi this casing tube. The reflector 3 is shown as provided with an edge flange 8 which engages the lower end ot' the casing tube 1, and at opposite sides thereof the reflector 3 is provided with outwardly indented laterally projecting studs 9 to enter into engagement with angular grooves 10 formed in the inner wall of the outer end of the lower casing part 1/` the studs E) and grooves 10 forming what is commonly called a bayonet joint, by which the reflector 3 is detachably connected to the lower end ot' the casing` tube 1 in a manner that is well understood. The outer edge Of the fla-nge 8 serves as a convenient means for turning the reflector 3 both in connecting it with the end of the casing tube 1 and removing it therefrom when desired.

lVithin the tubular casing made up ot the joined lower and upper parts 1 and 2, there is contained a suitable battery shown as comprising two cells placed in end-to-end relation, each of these cells havinga zinc terminal 11 in the form of a cup and a central carbon terminal 12. These battery7 cells have a sheet 13 ot celluloid or other suitable nonconducting` material wrapped about them l'or insulating their zinc terminals or cups 11 from the metallic casing parts 1 and 2, and the battery cells together with t-he nouconducting sheet 13 t snugly within the lower casing` tube 1 and project upward into the larger upper casing tube or cap 2. The carbon terminal 12 ot' the lower battery cell is in contact with the central terminal G of the lamp. Means involving my invention and now to be described are provided for maintaining the carbon terminal 12 of the lower battery cell in engagement with the central terminal G ot the lamp and `for completing and controlling` the circuit of the battery through the lamp.

A nonconductive disk 1-1 Jforming` a thrust block is fixed within the upper part ot the casing cap 2, and a coiled thrust spring 15 is interposed between the upper end ot the upper battery cell, in electrical engagement with the zinc terminal 11 thereof, and the non-conductive disk or thrust block 1-1. to which the spring 15 is secured and is shown as having an upwardly projecting end part 1G which passes centrally through the insulating block 1l and is riveted or upset at the upper side thereof`r as appears in the drawings` particularly in Fig. 2 thereof.

A circuit-controlling yslide shown as a. transversely curved ribbed plate 17 is longitudinally slidable upon the upper end of the upper handle-providing casing part 2 upon which it is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement by means ot inturned lugs 1S which pass through longitudinal slots 19 in the upper casing part 2 and are clenched or turned over toward each other at the inside thereol, grooves Q0 being provided in the insulating` disk or block 1st for the reception ol' the securing lugs 18, as appears in the drawings, particularly in F ig. 6. The longitudinally sliding eircuitcont-rolling plate 17 is provided with an electrically conductive circuit-controlling member shown as a pin or stud Q1 having ahead at the outside of and extending through the plate 17 and projecting at the inside of the upper casing part 2 through a slot 22 provided in the upper casing part 2 and into a groove '23 provided longitudinally in the edge of the nonconductive abutment block or disk 1li, as

clearly appears in the drawings. It is to be noted that the uppermost and larger coil of the coiled thrust spring 15 lies in the path of the inner end part ot the conductive stud or contact pin Q1 as this pin moves downward in the slot 2Q 'for thereby closing the circuit when the circuit-closing slide 17 is moved downward, as will be readily understood and as clearly appears in the drawings, particularly in Fig. 2 thereof.

The circuit-controlling slide or slidable circuit-controlling plate 17 is provided with a downwardly projecting resilient clip :El forming a hook for supporting the light and shown as formed integral or in one piece there-with and as joined thereto by means of an ollset or shoulder 25, and at its lower free end the resilient clip Q11 is provided with a spherical end or ball 26. The resilient clip 2f-l is adapted to releasably engage a. part of the apparel for supporting the light thereon and is adapted to receive between itself and the adjacent casing part 2, the material at the front of a pocket in which the light may be carried for thereby retaining the light in the pocket, and in this connection the terminal ball Q6 assists both in the entering` of the edge of the pocket bcneath the springclip 211 and also in more securely holdin the light in place and from dropping out of the pocket. as will be readil y understood.

lt should be noted that the above described construction provides tor the location oit the slidable circuit controlling clip carrying plate 1T at the upper or outer end of the upper or outer casing part 2, and that the resilient pocket-engaging clip carried by the circuit-controlling slide 17 projects toward the lower or lamp-carrying end of the lower casing tube 1q thereby providing for a convenient circuit-controlling arrangement oit" the parts, providing for the arrangement oit a plurality 01": end-to-end battery cells within the casing, providing for conveniently holding the casing by its outer end part 2 in operating the circuit-controlling slide 17, providing for the housing or concealment of the exposed bulb 7 of the lamp within the pocket, and also effectively providing a pocket light which closely resembles a usual fountain pen.

The pocket electric light embodying my invention. illustrated in the accompanying drawings is meant to be carried in the upper vest pocket or in some pocket of the clothing of the user, and it is of the greatest importance therefore that the clip-carrying circuit-controlling slide 17 shall be assured against accidental movement which would complete or close the circuit of the battery through the casing and lamp. Therefore, in carrying out my invention it is intended that the lower or lamp end of the pocket electric light illustrated in the drawings shall not reach, or shall only reach, the bottom of the pocket and that the upper front edge of the vest pocket will come in contact with the shoulder or offset 25 provided on the spring clip 24, adjacent to the slidable circuit-controlling plate 17, so that the weight of the device thus resting upon the edge of the pocket at the shoulder 25 will keep the plate 17 from sliding downward or being accidentally pushed downward to a sufficient eX- tent for the contact pin 21 to engage or come in contact with the spring 15, so that the circuit is maintained in the open condition by reason of the engagement, as above described, of the device with the pocket in which it is carried.

The pocket electric light of my invention has been so constructed and designed that it may be just as conveniently carried in the pocket of a vest as a fountain pen, and this is not only of importance in respect to the facility of carrying the light but also, because of this universal method of carrying fountain pens, the same habit already acquired may be further conveniently utilized. The pocket electric light of my invention is therefore intended to be carried in the same way that a fountain pen has heretofore been carried by the user thereof and to occupy a position in the upper vest pocket alongside of the fountain pen.

It is obvious that various modifications may be lnade in the construction shown in the drawings and above particularly described within the principle and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A pocket electric light comprising an elongated casing having at one end a lamp and containing a battery for the lamp, and means for retaining the light on the apparel and closing the circuit comprising an elongated clip mounted for slidable circuit-oontrolling movement upon the side of the cas1 ing at the end of the casing opposite to the lamp and slidable longitudinallyy of the casing for controlling the circuit of' the lamp and projecting toward the lamp-carrying end thereof, said clip being adapted to rcceive between itself and the casi ng the material ofthe apparel upon which the light may be carried.

2. A pocket flashlight coi'nprising a conable therewith for placing the casing in elecn trical connection with the other terminal of the battery.

3. A pocket flashlight comprising a conducting casing having at one end a lamp and containing a battery for the lamp, means for retaining the flashlight on the apparel and n closing the circuit comprising a slid able resilient clip on the side of thecasing havinga connected conducting part, a covering of non-conducting material on the battery for insulating the battery from the casing, and a spring for maintaining the engagement of one of the terminals of the battery with the lamp and engaging the other terminal of the battery', said conducting part being adapted through the sliding of said clip to move into or out of engagement with said spring for making or breaking the circuit of the battery through the lamp.

4. A pocket flashlight comprising a conducting casing having at one end a lamp and a removable other end portion and contain ing a battery in a plural number of end-toend cells for said lamp, means for retaining the flashlight on the apparel and closing the circuit comprising a slidable resilient'clip on the side of said casing and having a connected part movable therewith for placing the casing in electrical connection ywith the zinc of the inner battery cell, a wrapping of nonconducting material on said cells, and a spring for maintaining the engagement of the outer battery cell with the lamp.

5. A pocket flashlight comprising a conducting casing having at one end a lamp and a removable other end portion and containing a battery in a plural number of endto end cells for said lamp, means for retainingy the flashlight on the apparel of the owner and closing the circuit comprising a slidable resilient clip on the side of said casing having a connected conducting part, a wrapping of nonponducting material on said cells, and

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a spring for maintaining the engagement of the carbon of the outer battery cell With the lamp and engaging` the Zinc of the inner battei-y cell, said conducting part on the sliding of said clip being adapted to move into or from engagement with said spring for making and breaking the circuit.

ln a device of the character described, a metallic casing, a battery mounted therein, a lamp mounted at one end of the casing and electrically connected thereto and to one pole of the battery, means mounted at the other end of the casing and insulated therefrom and electrically connected to the other pole of the battery, a conductor slidably mounted upon and extending within the casing and electrically connected therewith and adapted when operated to contact with said means to complete the circuit through the lamp, and operating means for said conductor comprising a slide provided with means for retaining the device on the apparel.

7. A portable flashlight comprising a casing of conducting material, a battery there in, an electric lamp having one terminal in engagement with one end of said battery and its other terminal in electrical engagement with said casing, a conductor electrically engaged with the other end of said battery and insulated from said casing, a slide on the exterior of said casing, a conducting circuitclosing member within the casing and connected with said slide, whereby on the movement of said slide in one direction said member may be moved into engagement with said conductor to complete the circuit, and means carried ,by said slide for retaining the flashlight on the apparel, said means comprising a resilient clip projecting from the slide and adapted to receive between itself and the casing the material of the apparel on which the flashlight may be carried.

S. A portable iashlight comprising a metallic casing, a battery therein, an electric lamp having one terminal in engagement with one end of said battery and its other terminal in engagement with said casing, a, spring engaging the other end of said battery, a body of insulating material within the casing to which said spring is secured and by which said spring is insulated from the casing, a conductor slidable within the casing longitudinally thereof and electrically connected therewith and adapted when operated to come into contact with said spring to complet-c the circuit through the lamp, and a slide on the exterior of the side of the casing and slidable longitudinally thereof for operating said slidable conductor.

9. In a flashlight comprising an exterior casing haring at one end a lamp and containing a battery for the lamp and a spring at. the other end of 'the casing engaging the battery. a body of insulating material within the casing through which the outer end of said spring extends, and circuitclosing mechanism comyiirising a slidable member slidable Within said casing longitudinally thereof and having a laterally extending end overlapping a portion of the spring, and an exterior sliding member mounted on the side of the casing to slide longitudinally thereof for manual operation and connected with said inner slidable member.

10. A portable electric light comprising an elongated casing adapted to carry a lamp at one end thereof and to contain a battery for the lamp, and means for controlling the circuit of the battery through the lamp including a circuit-controlling slide mounted on the casing for sliding circuit-controlling movement longitudinally of the casing and provided with a clip forming a hook projecting toward the lamp-carrying end of the casing and adapted releasably to engage a part of the apparel for supporting the light thereon.

ll. A portable electric light comprising a battery-containing and lamp-carrying casing, means for controlling the circuit of the battery through the lamp including a circuit-controlling slide mounted on the casing for sliding circuit controlling movement` and a clip carried by the slide and forming a hook projecting from the slide toward the direction in which the slide moves to close the circuit, whereby when the light is supported by the hook the weight of the light; will tend to hold the slide at its open circuit position.

12. A portable electric light comprising an elongated casing adapted to carry a lamp at one end thereof and to contain a battery for the lamp, means for controlling the circuit of the battery through the lamp including a circuit-controlling slide mounted on the casing for sliding circuitcontrolling movement longitudinally of the casing and arranged to have movement toward the lamp-carrying end of the casing for closing the circuit, and a clip carried by the slide and forming a hook projecting toward the lamp-carrying end of the casing and adapt ed releasably to engage a part of the apparel for supporting the light thereon and whereby by reason of such engagement the weight of the light will tend to maintain the slide at the open circuit position.

13. A portable electric light comprising an elongated battery-containing and lampcarrying casing, a circuit-contolling slide mounted on the casing for sliding circuitcontrolling movement longitudinally of the casing, and means carried by the slide for supporting the light and adapted to maintain the slide in a desired circuit-controlling position by reason of the Weight of the lightl- 14. A portable electric light comprising of the apparel und adapted to maintain the an elongated battery-containing and lampslide in a desired ciremit-controlling position carrying easing, a circuit-Controlling slide by reason of the Weight of the light. 10 mounted on the easing for sliding eircuit In testimony whereof, I have aHiXed my controlling movement longitudinally of the signature to this specification. easing, and means carried by the slide for relezisably connecting the light with a part BERNARD BENEDICT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

